A Serious Game on Skull Anatomy for Dental Undergraduates

Knowledge of the anatomy of the skull and its bones forms an important part of the understanding required for the study and practice of safe clinical dentistry. The use of serious games in healthcare education is well-documented, but there is comparatively little evidence for their use in dental education. Intrinsically integrated rewards are a game mechanic that can be motivational for serious game users. A research gap was identified in the delivery of skull anatomy education to dental undergraduate students via a serious game with intrinsically integrated rewards. A serious game, titled Visualisation Studio Sim, was developed with Unity, featuring three-dimensional models and assets designed and modified with 3ds Max and Instant Meshes. Two versions of the game were built, one with the addition of intrinsically integrated rewards and one without it, and the game versions were tested by a convenience sample to gather open-ended feedback on the usability and suitability of the game mechanic for dental undergraduate education. Feedback suggested that it was straightforward to interact with the skull models but that the rewards were not as well integrated into the flow and immersion of the game as intended, and the game might not have been as challenging as desired for the intended cohort warranting future refinements in these aspects.